A kilo of quartz goes for 10 cents in the mines of Madagascar yet in Europe a tiny piece goes for 40 Euros!!!!.This injustice must stop.Thanks DW for making this known and I hope duty bearers will take necessary action.
Nobody is taking that 40 Euros from your pocket for a worthless shiny rock. Its your believe in hocus pocus that created the market for this exploitation
agreed this is extremely pitiful! What a great journalist. thanks so much for bringing this insight yet heartbreaking piece. how ironic that rose quartz is desired as the crystal of unconditional love, yet it's origins are fraught with despair.
They should do one on hazardous materials sold as "pretty natural stones" - like the so called "zebra jasper"... aka CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS sold on every possible platform. Sometimes the sellers/brands have no idea they are selling a banned hazardous material - a splash of vinegar from your Caesar salad and it starts shedding fibres. But if you confront them, they just deny deny deny, coming up with unverifiable explanations how this is not this particular stone or is a composite instead. It's best to google what it looks like so that you have a chance to avoid buying it masquerading as some other jasper or "composite" stone if you like that sort of thing. I've seen those everywhere from Zalando, to Otto to ASOS. And lots on Ali, of course... I can only imagine the conditions in which these asbestos stones are mined and crafted into jewellery, most likely workers have no idea they're inhaling incredibly hazardous dust and have no way to protect themselves anyway.
Wow - I'm struck by the moment when the miners see the rose quartz facial roller. It's so deeply upsetting that they don't even realize what their hard work is being used for, and even worse that their dangerous labor is disgustingly underpaid.
This is the same thing for a lot of farming industry. Ask most cocoa farmers if they’ve ever eaten chocolate in their lives. Probably not, or just very little. Fair trading is a little step ahead. I hope minerals mining can get such baby step as well.
One thing on price though: Maybe some places sell them for 40 euro but in the US online I'm seeing many at $18-25. There are some "luxury" brands selling at around 30-40 though. But when it's so easy to find it for less I wonder how they even sell at that $40 range. Regardless, something is broken af if both parents are working and they need the children to also. I'm not finished watching but wonder how to improve this. Making it illegal clearly doesn't stop it and doesn't fix the problem.
Thank u for making this . I was a in marketing, stylist and cosmetologist. I recently left this industry to focus on science. I can’t tell you almost 75% of the beauty industry is unethical and uneducated. The individuals that try to be ethical or has vast knowledge about this industry is like needle in a haystack. Influencers don’t have public knowledge or education that fits universally outside of themselves. The price of beauty lines someone else’s undeserving pockets. It’s the fakest market to boot.
Everything is vanity. When you think of the animal testing that goes into making cosmetics and how many animals die for humans to have false eyelashes and things like that. Pure evil.
I'm happy you chose something else. Cultivating human beauty has value of course, but people are causing a lot of harm while doing so. Beauty interwoven with ugliness and pain...The same can be said about biodiversity and the environment. Example: Most people agree we should do more about "protecting the bees". But the most endangered ones that we need to protect are the native bees and bumblebees, not the honey bee (humans will never allow this one to die off)! And when it comes to keeping piles of wood on your property for shelter, planting native flowering plants and mowing your lawn much, MUCH less frequently to allow access to flowers for the pollinators, then it becomes a problem because people still want their golf green grass and "perfect looking" yard, even if this means it's usually an ecological desert compared to what it could be without such practices...Looks, looks above everything else.
I'm about to graduate from college. I'm majoring in journalism. This is the kind of work I want to do, and I admire every single person that is a part of this process. Thank you so much!
The world could be transformed with more people like yourself AND those that are willing to prosecute the actual people committing crimes against humanity, instead of protecting the evil ones with the wealth.
I find myself respecting the man willing to openly discuss his suppliers and even bringing up the bad conditions himself to investigative journalists, not a lot of people are that honest
mining is hard work and hard labor! It is the absolutely NECESSARY WORK humans MUST do to create and advance ourselves >> metals are mined and so must be mined. Rock is mined and so must be mined. Many valuable resources we use every day MUST be mined and that is just what it is >>> MINES EQUAL JOBS which is money, food, and a roof over miner's heads.
5:07 I laughed when the blonde haired girl said that it will teach you compassion. Sweetheart if you didn't learn compassion when you were young than don't expect a rock to teach it to you.
what you even know about it honey. so you're saying that ancient Chinese people didn't know what they're doing ? they used these stones centuries ago. and thanks god you uncovered the truth. ridiculous!
I love how the miners looked so happy to speak to you. When you showed them what was made from the product they seemed proud. I hope they will be paid more in the future.
tha means your product will cost more. Companies do that not only to make more profits but sell their products at lower price. Cause people would rather spend 40$ on a stone than 200$ on same stone
@@mrbob4104 Most of the price increase is because of resellers/middle men. Not because of mining, processing, developing etc. Also $40 is a stretch. These rollers can be found for less than €10 in physical stores in Europe (so I'm not even talking about AliExpress, or Chinese stuff on Amazon). I'd gladly buy it for €10 or more, if the added amount would fully go to the miners.
You realize they use children for this labor, they do the same when mining mica in India for your cosmetics, more than 50.000 children (under the age of 12) are used to mine so you can feel pretty, and they don't earn good money, a smile to the camera doesn't mean happiness, stop romanticizing poverty and hard labor.
What upsets me the most is that children who are underage have to work in mines to feed their family, most importantly they're underpaid. What a tragic incident. Thanks DW for making these informative documentaries in order to raise awareness!
@@Smydr1006 the device you used to post this comment is made possible by silicon chipsets and lithium ion batteries. The data centers that power the networks you rely on to access the internet and signal your virtue all require copious amounts of rare earth minerals and energy. Those raw outputs are all produced in far worse conditions than the ones shown in this documentary. He's simply pointing out the hypocrisy of your selective outrage since you obviously won't give up the things you own that are produced in horrid conditions via underaged and exploitative labour.
I'm 16 and by watching this documentary film I understood I must stop watching some stupid movies, and rather study the world. If I don't do that, the situation becomes worse. I got many questions after completing watching this. Why do they hide this information? Why most people are keen on money now? Why they don't care about others? Time by time we are becoming egoists. Look at those kids, who really want to study at school, but they got to work. Why people are so bad? Why? Why? Why? I hope in the future I won't be like that. I will definitely change the world for the better. I will.
You are assuming what you should be trying to prove (or disprove). People aren't inherently good or bad, these are epistemic constructs of relative interpretation with respect to the particular environment people inhabit. You can read on the fundamental attribution error and situationism, to start with.
sadly it was always like that and that wont ever change. We as creatures are greedy at nature, some when getting the taste of what the high life is, become addicted to it. And like a crack addict wont stop to get their next dose no matter what, so do they. At the expense of others lives
An eye-opening documentary. Almost every commodity being mass produced almost always comes with ethical issues. It isn't impossible to go about with business that ensures safe and healthy working conditions for workers AND quality product, but greed is hindering that to become a realization.
If you want to blame Capitalism then know it is the lesser of two evils. To destroy capitalism you must destroy human rights and all civil rights. Because that’s the only way to ensure everyone is equal.
A guard should be placed in that area. Children, pregnant women and the elderly should be prohibited from mining there. Legal miners should also be well paid. Edit:I used a translator sorry if the Grammar is Wrong
The problem is the Monetary Market system itself... the method practiced does not matter... capitalism, socialism, communism, fascism, etc all follow the monetary-market system. "Human well-being and social progress are always secondary to monetary gain." -Peter Joseph
What hurts me is that obviously the Madagascan government knows what's happening, probably thats why those journalists were even denied access to the port. It's disgusting that the government doesn't do anything to help those poor kids in the mines. And they wonder why their economy is bad! Terrible investment into their people
There are 13 year old working illegally in meat factories in the USA. This is a worldwide issue that has more to do with capitalist exploitation than a country’s economic prosperity.
Looking at your replies...Why is it that when someone talks about a problem in a specific place? People come out with "yeah but there are kids working in (insert a developped country) so it's a overall problem". Believe me if those children would be given the chance of living a normal childhood in any developped country, they wouldn't hesitate a second to take it. It's good that these documentaries are out to show how ugly things really are behind the shallow practices from people all over the world.
Thank to the journalists who made this documentary. I’ve seen quite a lot content revolving around crystal and I knew there were downsides. But I never really did any research. Now I can have a more comprehensive understanding about this trend, and again my belief that 80% of social media content are somewhat harmful is upholded. If people want to have more ‘love energy’, maybe they should start to love themselves and others, giving help or making some meaningful contributions. Because that’s purely love, not the vague notion of crystal spiritual energy. I love crystals and those beautiful stones too, but possessing them doesn’t make your life truly more fulfilling.
I dont think most people understand this trend well, including the people who practice it, because its an evolution of spiritual beliefs that incorporate crystals (ex: sumarian, budhist, etc). For whatever reason this is never mentioned in documentaries and they just present it as "look at this silly new belief" (not new at all)
The people who believe in healing crystals should donate the money to these minor miners' education, which will do infinitely more healing on everyone.
How about the people putting them in the mines in the first place? Everyone always wants to punish and blame the consumer when all they've done is spend some money. Attack the real criminals.
@@celestielsigh I agree. I think healing crystals are silly, but the people buying them usually have no idea about the system they are funding. I think hating people (mostly women) for believing in spirituality and using crystals is rooted in misogyny. It's like, Instead of hating the women buying the crystals, maybe hate the (mostly) men enslaving people to produce the crystals.
I would not want to see this mining stop, only circumstances better. It's great that people are buying this, it's job creation. Remember that those who buffs the stones do have a greater expense, so they will charge more, Madagascar should treat their people better. I'm sure the Indian and Chinese factory workers are also not ideal. What this documentary doesn't explain is that as the stone is being processed and move up the line, the expenses increases, this isn't all that realistic.
If it's not crystals it's ivory. I don't think crystal enthusiasts are any better than traditional Chinese medicine or new-age mysticism it all seems to stem from the same woo beliefs and all of it is needlessly harmful and exploitative.
Watching this documentary, I am getting worried about the safety of the local people who have agreed to be interviewed, especially the regulatory person who was keen to stay with the journalist but had to leave due to COVID. I think this documentary should at least anonymize the interviewees' names and faces to protect their identity and potential retaliation (which could happen in third-world countries!). I have always been a big fan of DW, and admire the work of the documentary. I hope this comment gives some perspectives on the ongoing work and the ethical concerns when interviewing powerless underprivileged people
The "regulatory" person has a shady job and she knows it. That's what she gets for supporting that nonsense and trying to hide the country's corrupt practices. Agreed about anonimity of those interviewed.
Absolutly, I really think DW and others should review this matter and make it policy to better protect the brave yet vulnerable. Forget artistic licence, when the cameras are gone, the situation for those caught speaking up could deteriorate. The Madagascan government should hang their heads in shame, they just seem to want their people to be in perpetual poverty, in service to others.
Agreed thank you for helping bring this to light as I have been studying this as well. Do you have anyone to contact to ask more personal questions about this matter for my research as well? I wish to learn more and have an opportunity coming up to ask some questions about this topic and trace where stones and suppliers in my area get their suppliers and how much they are aware of these issues or see what I can find out as well. If you could provide an email or contact to discuss this further please do let me know. Any way to contact w privacy w be greatly appreciated on this matter thank you.
Eye-opening documentary.... Yeah, showing that people who believe in magic stones are stupid for supporting something so inhuman is reaaaaally eye-opening, lmao.
just a few days ago when i came across the gua-sha/jade rollers, i become really interested in them and even considered buying them. thank you so much for exposing the harsh reality behind their creation, and actually visiting the country!
Chinese here....guasha really helps to make you relax tho the process i painful (like massage), but there's really no need to buy expensive gemstone guasha tools. My mother and grandmother use our normal porcelain soup spoons from the kitchen to do it.
I'm Malagasy living abroad and it's painful whatching this but for once, it shows what realy happening. It's not just for the crystal but for many many other thing, there is NO transparancy in my country, the government don't allow real thing to be known, and THIS helps us to discover more about the reality. Thank you for all the effort and the hard work to show this to the world!❤
PLEASE give anonymity to those brave but vulnerable people taking part in exposés from countries where you KNOW the human rights conditions are poor. They may not ask but that is no excuse. Thanks you for continuing to do great documentaries though; I’m not aware of any news channel of this calibre better than DW.
ppl dont know anything about money. thats why. and it happens in america too. people who dont know anything are working shitty low wage jobs which in terms of how rich America is, is almost as bad as these people in madagascar
I'm a jewelry maker using strictly genuine gemstones. I can tell you that in 6 years of selling both beads and jewelry, NO ONE has ever asked about labor conditions, fair market, or any other related topic. I was a mineral, rock & fossil collector for decades and very few people were concerned about extraction issues except "conflict diamonds" awareness. I used to ask my vendors about these issues and none of them had a clue except sometimes about the bead factory processing the material.
@@MM-qp4pd Whataboutism doesn't help issues like this. We all know it is impossible to be perfectly ethical as a consumer. You have to focus on one issue at a time and try to make SOME change in anyway you can. It's all you can do. Awareness alone is the first step and most people aren't even aware. The crappy thing is that people don't realize that change is local and small and then ripples out. Most people aren't versed on law, let alone regulation and law in a different country, let alone in a specific area of a country under specific jurisdiction. All we can do as consumers is try to make other choices with what we buy when we're aware of it happening and there are some products where this is outright impossible, including food, clothes and technology. On top of this, your ethical choices are limited by your finances. Considering half the world is poor to low income which includes both extreme poverty to more 1st world level struggling to pay rent, most people can't even choose fair trade, ethical or sustainable sources because they literally can't afford them.
This documentary unveils the hidden realities behind the gemstone industry, reminding us to consider the human cost of our desires for beauty and wellness. It's eye-opening and thought-provoking. Thank you for shedding light on this important issue.
This hurts to see the people doing the backbreaking work get peanuts for their toil and labor; and the people further down the supply chain to reap the rewards and benefits from another human's effort. Terribly sad and disappointing. Nonetheless, your research, tenacious efforts and questions revealed the truth in this story. Thank you!
Exactly and many people don't know this including that stones don't really make you happier or spiritual effects or whatever salt rock lamps don't make you happier either Scientists proved that
@@andrewreynolds912 did the scientists find that out? Where n when? I don't know when they became popular. All of a sudden I noticed u cld buy them in shops. At prices I wouldn't pay.
The stone is a commodity, similar to thousands of other commodities. In a global market, this kind of situation is just not avoidable and unstoppable. The kids in Madagascar need the money but with few options for them. At least they can work and earn something by digging and shipping the stones, which is helpful to their family and themselves. Even if the end sellers in EU strictly demand to get rid of children labors and improve the working conditions (higher pay for frontline workers, diggers, shippers, insurance, equipment, personal protection equipment, or even air-conditioning at work sites, and whatever the Western media and readers feel morally better), it is impossible to implement without sending onsite Q/A control and inspectors. These all cost money. Shall end sellers raise the price to compensate for these additional cost? Sure, why not?! Then the market will unavoidably shrink, and this will eventually feedback to Madagascar and the kid labors will either earn even less or there will be less labors. Don't fool yourself. Nobody can change these and child labor will exist for many years to come in underdeveloped countries. And you know what? The kids do not feel they are being exploited. They are happy with these jobs.
As usual, great journalism. These mining labor problems are similar to coffee farms and others all over the world. When companies are even putting the label as ' Fair Trade' I've been doubting since Ive watched these documentaries. People just dont wanna think what we are buying are from forced labour, and can imagine deep down to the supply chains what stages of these peoples working conditions are fair and legit, it is very sad to hit the reality. Simply not buying products wont help changing the conditions of global south.
I was born in Madagascar but grew up in the US and I love crystals. This was painful to watch but thank you for bringing awareness. I pray my country and its people will get the appropriate treatment and prosperity it deserves🙏 it really is a wealthy country in gems and other resources, the people's lives should be in a better condition. I somehow stumbled on this video, so thankful that I did. I recently heard someone say we live in a dystopian world and I unfortunately agree. Misaotra tompoko.
Madagascar is a democratic country with a multi-party, presidential system of government. The government is composed of the president, prime minister, and cabinet members, with the president elected by the national electorate. The Constitution of Madagascar guarantees basic rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. Additionally, Madagascar has signed many international human rights conventions and agreements committing to protecting civil rights and freedoms. However, Madagascar still faces challenges such as political corruption, poverty, and inequality, which pose obstacles to its democratic development and social progress. So democracy is not the solution here
I am a paralyzed spinal cord person as a result of injury from my neck,And to see someone put in such a heavy stone on their neck Directly to the spine give me chills.The government is partly to be blamed.
This is insightful. This is exactly what’s happening in mines in Nigeria. My client mines fluorite and lead ore and sells to Chinese, who in turn export to China. The circumstances surrounding the mining conditions, prices and regulatory inadequacies as narrated in this documentary are quite similar to what he’s experiencing.
Well. Apple is protecting rights of Chinese workers. They did check around on small components supplying factories regarding workers working conditions and accommodation and salaries. Thank you for that. Those Chinese stone products suppliers might not be stone importers, the importers and African exporters might not communicate regarding mining situations. It is difficult for them to get involved in mining operations in foreign land. And I do think African workers do need the job. Best options will be having investment locally. Whole mining. Production and finished production exporting all in one. That can make easier control.
The Chinese has no control over the mining conditions surrounding the Nigerian miners. They often don’t get to talk to the miners at all, only the local exporter in charge, so they don’t get to see what’s happening at the mine. African mine owners often ask the Chinese to buy from them and say it’ll give the locals a job to do, and the Chinese does because they believe it’s better to give the miners a way to support their family and in the Chinese’s eyes it’s not as expensive as say Swiss quartz. But believe it or not, the owners in charge often force the Chinese businessmen to engage in covert price manipulation. This has been happening a lot with certain Namibian crystals. Stop blaming the Chinese people when they’re just one part of the supply chain. Punish the corrupted mine owners who do this. From what I heard, Nepalese Himalayan crystals are slightly better because most Nepalese miners are heavily religious and don’t believe in this over exploitation of premium thing. Their miners are way more protected or at least acts way more safely when mining, and that’s why the crystals are slightly more expensive. Nepalese spend 1/3 of their year MIA, for “wholesome” reasons, like engaging in cultural activities, so they don’t receive phone calls or anything at all, even if you pay them. So the Chinese need to pay them more for their small but safe produce and also for the time they’re absent throughout the year. They engaged directly with the miners so the Nepalese miners get all the profit, the Chinese only slightly, and the Chinese consumers are willing to pay because the origins are more ethical. If the Chinese were responsible for harsh Nigerian conditions, well they’re also just as responsible for the harmony, safety and prosperity of the Nepalese miners. But that is not the case, the Namibian mine owners are responsible for their atrocities and the Nepalese miners’ communal values are credited for their prosperity. The Chinese are just the consumers paying for everybody’s food on the table but have no say on how it is shared.
You have done an amazing job. I hope people have more awareness of what they're buying and ask for more legal obligations to protect the miners. This documentary makes me want to be a journalist, too.
It's actually not the stones it self that helps the skin, it's the stimulation of the capillaries and fat pockets that the stones do when massaged into the face. You can do this with anything flat and smooth. Crystals are just a perfect material to use.
This was a great documentary - thank you. I have to admit, I teared up a little when the roller came out and it was exposed that it was sold for 40 Euros when the miners were only making 10 cents for their hard work. It's disgraceful and unjust that this is how it is. They deserve more.
Well, conspiracies were also just 'fun' 30 years ago and look at them now. It's kinda internet's fault but it's sad since internet brought us insane access to education yet we use it the opposite way...
Well rocks and crystals do have electromagnetic vibrations to them and the structures themselves are very organized structures which can transmit frequency. This is why it’s always been used in watches to keep time, it transmits frequency to move the dial and watches that run on Quartz are more accurate than electric watches. So it’s not really made up it does conduct energy. Whether that energy is healing I don’t really know.
Most people I know just like them for the fun of it, something physical that has value attached to project your wants and needs onto. At least that's what I've seen but it's also the opinion I hold so there's a bias.
Finally! Thank you so much DW team! For years and years I tell my friends and everyone who buys the stones but I have not find many proof; now I'll directly send this doc. to them. I hope they feel 'spiritual enough' to act for ending this injustice. I believe we can stop this at least for the life of new generations and those who have worked all through their lives deserve the right to have a choice. Please don't leave this subject here and make a new episode. Madagascar is not the only country that suffers from powerty of cosmetic & beauty industry.
What do you propose we do to help these people? If people stop buying the stones they will sink into poverty even further. But exploiting dangerous work conditions and child labor is also unacceptable. Only enforcement of regulations and them getting money from the government or elsewhere can help the situation.
Majority of clothes you wear, standard cosmetics, even your everyday makeup is most likely unethical, are you willing to give it up too? I just don't like this blaming the customer for everything when it's in fact the companies exploiting this people who are to blame for those conditions.
I'm listening to this while walking my dog in Southern Arizona (USA)and I've walked by so much rose quartz. It's a real tragedy that people have found ways to exploit miners and, to a much lower extent, consumers in the trade of this ubiquitous mineral.
That Sisia kid is so smart. He knows what is happening, even without leaving his island, left alone his village. He knows that is wrong for a kid to give up school, that his parents need help for him to survive . That kid has so much potential....but completely imprisoned in that reality 😢
Bravo, brave journalists for exposing exploitation and injustice happening in Madagascar daily. Clearly, human rights laws are needed globally in the face of mass consumerism and greed.
DW is one of the last hopeful places left on internet that produces documentaries about very important and neglected topics, with zero bullshit, well done!!!
It's really sad to see humans in so-called 'developed' and 'advanced' countries so mentally and emotionally vulnerable that they're willing to believe that some stones can help improve their lives by just possessing them or rubbing them on skin.
Mind blown by the stupidity of people and even worse how easily people fall for unethical marketing. Specially this gem stone industry seems to be just full of darkness, I wouldn't want to rub some stones on my body that are just filled with so much negativity, hard work, tears and death (I mean if I was superstitious and believed in good and bad energy).
Human history is full of cultures believing pretty rocks will heal them or give them powers. It’s honestly strange why such beliefs are so widespread. Like we have to give justification for simply enjoying things that sparkle.
This is very similar to emerald mining in Zambia. It would be really nice to have something similar done. Alot of dealer's in Europe claim responsible mining yet locals and the community have not benefited from any development. Few ppl are aware of this. Please reach out if you would be interested.
I'm a beauty influencer from India and I m always attracted towards this quartz culture and trend. But after knowing the truth behind the stones, it really hurts.
It’s the same story over and over. Almost all of our modern goods have ingredients that come from exploited people who deserve to be paid a decent wage. It’s ok to think crystals are pretty and nice to have around but important to remember where they come from and that they are just rocks, dug up by some poor person barely scraping by. I don’t know what we can do about it other than bring awareness and hope there will be better regulation and pay for their work.
@@CampingforCool41 I like crystals and have a few on my bookshelf, but it doesn't go beyond that. Probably because I understand the scientific ideas of geology. A lot of this nonsense is based on woo--i.e. unproven superstition.
"influencers" - despicable creatures who have no idea about the benefits and harms of the products they sell, who go into the pockets of the followers for their personal interests (exceptions excluded). Thank you @DW - you are my fav youtube channel
Too many people follow stuff that is promoted by influencers or just what is trending on social media. We don't need to follow any influencer. We are ALL individuals. Agreed DW is excellent!
I also wondered why people believe "influencers", those people behide the screen could be just actors hired to do the job, we as an audience have no way of really knowing much about the "influencers" education, knowledge, background, experience and they change their recommendations depending on the sponsor , so obviously they're not being honest, so why do people let some random people(influencers) on the screen influence them?
‘Don’t belive the hype!’ served me enormously well so far. I hope you can also control the influence others want on your decisions making. Thank you for the documentary. It’s refreshing to hear better approach to soundtrack in general! Massive attack? Modeselektor? Color me impressed, DW! I can imagine your recent uploads resonate well not only with me but also with others that want to have bigger picture about important things in life. Once again! Thank you for shining the light on many important issues that need to be not only addressed but also changed with the knowledge of the whole inner workings.
I'm wondering if the story is similar with Himalayan salt lamps. To hear those kids say they want to go to school but can't afford too, that hurt my heart. Especially as a teacher.
In 2013 I was studying this topic and I found a journal publication which said something about the salt miners earning less than $2 a day and how "fair trade" was corrupt because the price charged for the end products doesn't filter down to the workers on the land ($50 for a salt lamp at the time, where I lived!). I can't find the specific Himalayan publication now but you can certainly google uneven distribution of revenue/corruption in fair trade and find many results. It's a very heartbreaking story that is often repeated inside the narrative of 'helping poor countries develop their economy" 😞
I do not know how. But lately you have become my favorite TH-cam channel. Even BBC documentaries cannot compete with you in quality. Thank you for providing us with free information on interesting topics.
Well i guees rocks do have some subtle power, from ancient times isn't emperor seals also made from jade stone? From Aaron breastplate with twelve stones? New Jerusalem with multicolor stones?
Also DW documentary starting up a fake supplier business was very smart try to find answers I gotta say you guys are amazing for what you're doing I appreciate it
It is so important the work that you all are doing by showing these situations to the public. Thank you so much. We all should care a lot more of each others and try to help and make things change.
I used to believe that crystals could heal and bring good luck to my life. I also spent a lot of money on them when I was young. Watching this video made me feel so sorry for those people who work in such terrible conditions. I won’t buy anything that involves someone else’s pain anymore. I will choose companies that are trusted and have a good reputation.
Thank you for doing us all a service. I guess we are all accountable for turning a blind eye because it is the easier option. It is easier to ignore the suffering of others in developing countries if it means we can have another pretty thing. I am now in my mid 30s and only just really questioning what this means to me and how I can change my life decisions to help others and reflect the true value of equity that I want in my life. Thank you again for navigating these complex and difficult situations in order to provide us with this documentary. We can and must change.
What a sorrow truth. If I didn't watch this documentary, I would never know this illegally mining process and the hardship people and children in Madagascar have been through.
My sister is totally into these crystals and has a whole big collection in different sizes and types (which I actually don’t understand). Nobody in our family approves of it, but she insists on its healing properties… I am going to share this video with her! Thank you for your hard work, brave reporting and uploading this video ! My heart and prayers go out for the kids in the mines at Madagascar.. wish I could do more for them…!!
@@land-uknown7456 she is still in denial. I only sent her the video. I don’t know how much sincerely she watched the video or not. I have to meet her and then talk about this with her seriously !
That was a great story you covered. I'm so in shock by the conditions. I'm definitely going to take this lesson and pass it down to whoever needs it. Thank you for this documentary
epoxy or metal guasha works just as well as "jade" guasha... it's so messed up. i know some guasha specialists say using it on face is pointless. scraping your legs or back is supposed to for example improve circulation, and after a session you're usually left with marks. it's not a pleasant treatment imho
I'm Tanzanian and Tanzania isn't that far from Madagascar but I'm VERY fortunate because my mum provides my every basic need and sometimes even my whims that I now realise are very stupid and dumb. DW you are heaven sent.
Incredible documentary. I truly had no idea of most of this information, and I greatly appreciate this thorough (as possible) in-depth look at even just something we take for granted, like rose quartz gems you may find in a gem shop. Are there any foundations or groups working to improve the working conditions of the miners (and other miners in similar situations) that we can help support?
This is so heartbreaking..but I do believe that if we educate ourselves we can become more conscious buyers..and then businesses will have to change their business model
and at the same time we have billionaires sitting around making more in one second what a miner in Madagascar makes in one year. Such a shame to humankind and makes me feel depressed about our own greed.
Seems China/India pay pennies and charge a steep mark up for their products. There needs to be more transparency about the costs of production and profit margins that is for sure. These miners deserve better pay. My only consideration then is that, when it becomes more lucrative to mine, these natural areas will be more heavily exploited by larger companies in search of profit causing vastly more environmental damage... A tricky situation indeed.
Thank you for this important piece of journalism. We say in the US, “Journalism is the fourth branch of government.” I will not be buying those stones for myself or my daughter anymore.
I had a friend in Bangkok whose family run a gem cutting factory (just what they call it, no huge workforce though, just 3 of them: mom, dad, and son). They showed me a news tv show in which a woman was interviewed about her rose quartz roller and gua sha company. They said they made them for her, 100s of them and that she never paid them. Really messed up...
It would have been nice if this doc added that side of the story. What is the cost of shipping and working the gem into a product? These cutting factories add value .
they even bought the raw rose quartz themselves. A lot of it under the implicit understanding that they would do business with this woman over an extended period of time, maybe 5 years. Now their backyard looks like a quarry, so full is it of the raw material.
@@DSGLABEL In my opinion Its complicated. Other than the language barriers (none of them speak english very well) there are other cultural barriers. Thai people are very hard workers, most are very kind, have a refined and sensitive aesthetic appreciation and highly skilled craftsmen... but to find a thai person with the particular kind of initiative it would take to start a business of that sort is pretty unusual. Thai people are not ambitious or farsighted planners and though not submissive (the country takes great pride in never having been subject to colonialization) workers usually require explicit instruction to know what to do everyday and in what order or else they will just sit on their hands. Entrepreneurship is a wild west of sorts, it is not something that it is so common for a thai person to excel in. It is better for this family to do the labor and have others market and sell.
I've also seen shops selling these gemstones in Hong Kong too. I've never believed in their benefits even though my aunt swears by the stuff. Thanks for reporting, very informative!
Thank you, Nadja and the DW team for making this stunning documentary. I think the first-hand buyers of the raw minerals and the mining country's government are the ones most responsible for child labor eradication and implementing fair trade policies. However, if corruption and bribery are still widely committed by the authorities in those countries, it will be difficult to turn the tables and fight for change.
Thank you for making this documentary. I hope to see a comment at the end on how a viewer can help those people in Madagascar. The villain is the Madagascar government. How can a viewer influence a change in working conditions and paid rates? Knowing the situation is important, and taking action is more important.
The story of exploitation by the imperial core as usual. Excellent perseverance and courage, so bravo this team! And thank you DW for being the platform for these excellent stories to be told.
Thank you DW for another insightful and informative look into the real life costs of what is often “trendy” in the west/global north. Real journalism! Bravo!
You could see a bit of pride when they saw what people make with their crystals. But then how their faces changed when found out how much the products are sold for... I hope they negotiate for higher prices in the future
Thank you for such a well made documentary on this subject, i've been trying to tell so many others about this with no effect but hopefully now I can just send this instead, it has much more impact.
I get a sense of pride from the workers when they see what their raw product becomes. Pride in your work is an important part of working . It saddens me that the money up top doesn’t reach them…
Love the documentary❤ I just want to share my experience regarding gem stone (Batu Akik) in Indonesia. As in Madagascar some of the mines are still traditional. However, in Indonesia the local people themselves process the boulders into bracelets or rings. So the economy rotates domestically. Only a few artisans can sell jade jewelry to china. I hope Madagascar doesn't just mine rose quartz and selling it in raw form. But can turn chunks of stone into jewelery on the spot in Madagascar. Build artisan village, art gallery, vocational school for gem stone art, etc. Do I need to send gem stone artisans directly to teach stone polishing techniques in Madagascar? Or maybe Germany Investor eager to invest there? 🇲🇬🇮🇩 #limagang #austronesian 🇲🇬Vatolampy 🇮🇩 Batu/watu
So great to bring up the economic perspective side. Having added value definitely would change the economy of Madagascar a lot but corruption and selfishness of the government is ruining the country. Not only to mention the strangeness of that media lady at the beginning. By the way, it is so amazing to see the similarities of the language as you mentioned at the end. Actually, rock is vato in Malagasy and if there is a prefix it would become -bato (we pronounce o as « u »)
I'm from poor Asian country and I been witnessed many child labor surrounding me. It's been very common for child for work, and very strangely they are proud to working, ive been strongly against that kind of child labor, but when it comes to money, I can't do much
Judging by your name, let me just tell it to your face that INDONESIA is not a poor country at all. Its a very rich country with vast wealth of natural resources. There's just lots of poor people that got exploited because corruption is rampant.
Thank you for this. I have been writing a research paper about conflict minerals and have been focusing mostly on 3tg minerals but have been doing a lot of research about mining in general. This has given me new insight and will definitely be researching more about these minerals and it’s mining process.
I hope Olivia doesn´t watch this video for the sake of the locals who colaborated. The point is they live like that because others live very well . Nothing new under the sun. Danke, DW. I´m a fan of yours.
A kilo of quartz goes for 10 cents in the mines of Madagascar yet in Europe a tiny piece goes for 40 Euros!!!!.This injustice must stop.Thanks DW for making this known and I hope duty bearers will take necessary action.
The value addition is highest in Marketing and hence has the highest margin.
Understand Madagascar miners are not digging up prepackaged face rollers.
Nobody is taking that 40 Euros from your pocket for a worthless shiny rock.
Its your believe in hocus pocus that created the market for this exploitation
agreed this is extremely pitiful! What a great journalist. thanks so much for bringing this insight yet heartbreaking piece. how ironic that rose quartz is desired as the crystal of unconditional love, yet it's origins are fraught with despair.
Yes, This is absolutely insane
DW deserves awards for their documentaries. I've never been disappointed
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Be sure to check out our channel for more content.
@@DWDocumentary Poor response. As if the commenter needed your recommendation.
@@martamariotto1181 not for you to judge😂
They should do one on hazardous materials sold as "pretty natural stones" - like the so called "zebra jasper"... aka CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS sold on every possible platform. Sometimes the sellers/brands have no idea they are selling a banned hazardous material - a splash of vinegar from your Caesar salad and it starts shedding fibres. But if you confront them, they just deny deny deny, coming up with unverifiable explanations how this is not this particular stone or is a composite instead. It's best to google what it looks like so that you have a chance to avoid buying it masquerading as some other jasper or "composite" stone if you like that sort of thing. I've seen those everywhere from Zalando, to Otto to ASOS. And lots on Ali, of course... I can only imagine the conditions in which these asbestos stones are mined and crafted into jewellery, most likely workers have no idea they're inhaling incredibly hazardous dust and have no way to protect themselves anyway.
@@3CandiesInTX Says who
Wow - I'm struck by the moment when the miners see the rose quartz facial roller. It's so deeply upsetting that they don't even realize what their hard work is being used for, and even worse that their dangerous labor is disgustingly underpaid.
This is the same thing for a lot of farming industry. Ask most cocoa farmers if they’ve ever eaten chocolate in their lives. Probably not, or just very little. Fair trading is a little step ahead. I hope minerals mining can get such baby step as well.
And for such a superficial product that likely doesn’t even work
To be fair like 90% of those little weird things are probably not even real rose quartz 😂
One thing on price though: Maybe some places sell them for 40 euro but in the US online I'm seeing many at $18-25. There are some "luxury" brands selling at around 30-40 though. But when it's so easy to find it for less I wonder how they even sell at that $40 range. Regardless, something is broken af if both parents are working and they need the children to also. I'm not finished watching but wonder how to improve this. Making it illegal clearly doesn't stop it and doesn't fix the problem.
Same thing happens in the documentary Behind the Swoosh on vimeo - covering Nike's injustice
The irony of rich people buying stones for "love" when these stones have been mined by underpaid poor workers who don't get much love...
become rich and stop complain then.
@@adw6894 I'm already rich, I'm just conscious enough to see the hypocrisy when it happens.
Can you somehow help them?😢@@1000OtherFoxes
I didn’t even think of that perspective. Thank you sharing.
@@beautybychaela ☺
Thank u for making this . I was a in marketing, stylist and cosmetologist. I recently left this industry to focus on science. I can’t tell you almost 75% of the beauty industry is unethical and uneducated. The individuals that try to be ethical or has vast knowledge about this industry is like needle in a haystack. Influencers don’t have public knowledge or education that fits universally outside of themselves. The price of beauty lines someone else’s undeserving pockets. It’s the fakest market to boot.
yes, friend! same exact story. branding+marketing+ packaging design in the beauty industry. society is so lost and brainwashed...
Everything is vanity. When you think of the animal testing that goes into making cosmetics and how many animals die for humans to have false eyelashes and things like that. Pure evil.
Can you link some good information or documentary🙏
I'm happy you chose something else. Cultivating human beauty has value of course, but people are causing a lot of harm while doing so. Beauty interwoven with ugliness and pain...The same can be said about biodiversity and the environment. Example: Most people agree we should do more about "protecting the bees". But the most endangered ones that we need to protect are the native bees and bumblebees, not the honey bee (humans will never allow this one to die off)! And when it comes to keeping piles of wood on your property for shelter, planting native flowering plants and mowing your lawn much, MUCH less frequently to allow access to flowers for the pollinators, then it becomes a problem because people still want their golf green grass and "perfect looking" yard, even if this means it's usually an ecological desert compared to what it could be without such practices...Looks, looks above everything else.
Cathartic
I'm about to graduate from college. I'm majoring in journalism. This is the kind of work I want to do, and I admire every single person that is a part of this process. Thank you so much!
The world could be transformed with more people like yourself AND those that are willing to prosecute the actual people committing crimes against humanity, instead of protecting the evil ones with the wealth.
I wish the the best in your education I. Journalism.
I find myself respecting the man willing to openly discuss his suppliers and even bringing up the bad conditions himself to investigative journalists, not a lot of people are that honest
mining is hard work and hard labor! It is the absolutely NECESSARY WORK humans MUST do to create and advance ourselves >> metals are mined and so must be mined. Rock is mined and so must be mined.
Many valuable resources we use every day MUST be mined and that is just what it is >>> MINES EQUAL JOBS which is money, food, and a roof over miner's heads.
5:07 I laughed when the blonde haired girl said that it will teach you compassion. Sweetheart if you didn't learn compassion when you were young than don't expect a rock to teach it to you.
Hahaha
Underated comment
what you even know about it honey. so you're saying that ancient Chinese people didn't know what they're doing ? they used these stones centuries ago. and thanks god you uncovered the truth. ridiculous!
@@venturous123yeah right, because chinese culture is so typically compassionate to those around them and thrir environment 🙄
@@studiouskid1528 you don't say
I love how the miners looked so happy to speak to you. When you showed them what was made from the product they seemed proud. I hope they will be paid more in the future.
tha means your product will cost more. Companies do that not only to make more profits but sell their products at lower price. Cause people would rather spend 40$ on a stone than 200$ on same stone
@@mrbob4104 I think the stone is worth $200 if these people gotta live like that
@@mrbob4104 Most of the price increase is because of resellers/middle men. Not because of mining, processing, developing etc. Also $40 is a stretch. These rollers can be found for less than €10 in physical stores in Europe (so I'm not even talking about AliExpress, or Chinese stuff on Amazon). I'd gladly buy it for €10 or more, if the added amount would fully go to the miners.
@@mrbob4104they make too much profit. Reduce their profits and the prices can stay the same while the bottom line gets a bigger percentage
You realize they use children for this labor, they do the same when mining mica in India for your cosmetics, more than 50.000 children (under the age of 12) are used to mine so you can feel pretty, and they don't earn good money, a smile to the camera doesn't mean happiness, stop romanticizing poverty and hard labor.
What upsets me the most is that children who are underage have to work in mines to feed their family, most importantly they're underpaid. What a tragic incident. Thanks DW for making these informative documentaries in order to raise awareness!
@@whointhewhat what do you mean exactly?
@@Smydr1006 look up how phones are made
@@Smydr1006 the device you used to post this comment is made possible by silicon chipsets and lithium ion batteries. The data centers that power the networks you rely on to access the internet and signal your virtue all require copious amounts of rare earth minerals and energy. Those raw outputs are all produced in far worse conditions than the ones shown in this documentary. He's simply pointing out the hypocrisy of your selective outrage since you obviously won't give up the things you own that are produced in horrid conditions via underaged and exploitative labour.
LOOK UP Cobalt and Lithium Mining in Africa@@Smydr1006
What upsets me the most is that people are stupid enough to believe that these stones have healing properties.
I'm 16 and by watching this documentary film I understood I must stop watching some stupid movies, and rather study the world. If I don't do that, the situation becomes worse. I got many questions after completing watching this. Why do they hide this information? Why most people are keen on money now? Why they don't care about others? Time by time we are becoming egoists. Look at those kids, who really want to study at school, but they got to work. Why people are so bad? Why? Why? Why? I hope in the future I won't be like that. I will definitely change the world for the better. I will.
You are assuming what you should be trying to prove (or disprove). People aren't inherently good or bad, these are epistemic constructs of relative interpretation with respect to the particular environment people inhabit. You can read on the fundamental attribution error and situationism, to start with.
You learned a great lesson. ❤
it's all bcuz of greed
sadly it was always like that and that wont ever change. We as creatures are greedy at nature, some when getting the taste of what the high life is, become addicted to it. And like a crack addict wont stop to get their next dose no matter what, so do they. At the expense of others lives
@@retarded1651 🎯😥💯🥴🦾🗽💞
An eye-opening documentary. Almost every commodity being mass produced almost always comes with ethical issues. It isn't impossible to go about with business that ensures safe and healthy working conditions for workers AND quality product, but greed is hindering that to become a realization.
Yes, this is the major downfall of capitalism
If you want to blame Capitalism then know it is the lesser of two evils. To destroy capitalism you must destroy human rights and all civil rights. Because that’s the only way to ensure everyone is equal.
A guard should be placed in that area. Children, pregnant women and the elderly should be prohibited from mining there. Legal miners should also be well paid.
Edit:I used a translator sorry if the Grammar is Wrong
The problem is the Monetary Market system itself... the method practiced does not matter... capitalism, socialism, communism, fascism, etc all follow the monetary-market system.
"Human well-being and social progress are always secondary to monetary gain." -Peter Joseph
What hurts me is that obviously the Madagascan government knows what's happening, probably thats why those journalists were even denied access to the port. It's disgusting that the government doesn't do anything to help those poor kids in the mines. And they wonder why their economy is bad! Terrible investment into their people
North Korea Jr.
There are 13 year old working illegally in meat factories in the USA. This is a worldwide issue that has more to do with capitalist exploitation than a country’s economic prosperity.
The government knows, and they don't care. The higher ups are keeping all of the money.
Same is said for pretty much any government, though. :/
Looking at your replies...Why is it that when someone talks about a problem in a specific place? People come out with "yeah but there are kids working in (insert a developped country) so it's a overall problem". Believe me if those children would be given the chance of living a normal childhood in any developped country, they wouldn't hesitate a second to take it. It's good that these documentaries are out to show how ugly things really are behind the shallow practices from people all over the world.
Strange that they don't have Free indoctrination camps for the kids like the rest of the world.
Thank to the journalists who made this documentary.
I’ve seen quite a lot content revolving around crystal and I knew there were downsides. But I never really did any research. Now I can have a more comprehensive understanding about this trend, and again my belief that 80% of social media content are somewhat harmful is upholded.
If people want to have more ‘love energy’, maybe they should start to love themselves and others, giving help or making some meaningful contributions. Because that’s purely love, not the vague notion of crystal spiritual energy. I love crystals and those beautiful stones too, but possessing them doesn’t make your life truly more fulfilling.
I agree with you
I dont think most people understand this trend well, including the people who practice it, because its an evolution of spiritual beliefs that incorporate crystals (ex: sumarian, budhist, etc). For whatever reason this is never mentioned in documentaries and they just present it as "look at this silly new belief" (not new at all)
"life was unaffordable " is such a tragic and heartbreaking thing to hear from someone so young
The people who believe in healing crystals should donate the money to these minor miners' education, which will do infinitely more healing on everyone.
How about the people putting them in the mines in the first place? Everyone always wants to punish and blame the consumer when all they've done is spend some money. Attack the real criminals.
@@celestielsigh I agree. I think healing crystals are silly, but the people buying them usually have no idea about the system they are funding. I think hating people (mostly women) for believing in spirituality and using crystals is rooted in misogyny. It's like, Instead of hating the women buying the crystals, maybe hate the (mostly) men enslaving people to produce the crystals.
I would not want to see this mining stop, only circumstances better. It's great that people are buying this, it's job creation. Remember that those who buffs the stones do have a greater expense, so they will charge more, Madagascar should treat their people better. I'm sure the Indian and Chinese factory workers are also not ideal. What this documentary doesn't explain is that as the stone is being processed and move up the line, the expenses increases, this isn't all that realistic.
If it's not crystals it's ivory. I don't think crystal enthusiasts are any better than traditional Chinese medicine or new-age mysticism it all seems to stem from the same woo beliefs and all of it is needlessly harmful and exploitative.
@@Naranylla exactly
Watching this documentary, I am getting worried about the safety of the local people who have agreed to be interviewed, especially the regulatory person who was keen to stay with the journalist but had to leave due to COVID. I think this documentary should at least anonymize the interviewees' names and faces to protect their identity and potential retaliation (which could happen in third-world countries!).
I have always been a big fan of DW, and admire the work of the documentary. I hope this comment gives some perspectives on the ongoing work and the ethical concerns when interviewing powerless underprivileged people
I agree about the anonymity, however the retaliation occurs in all countries.
$$$
Very true
The "regulatory" person has a shady job and she knows it. That's what she gets for supporting that nonsense and trying to hide the country's corrupt practices. Agreed about anonimity of those interviewed.
They be creatin 42:26 length videos like some OCD kid.
Absolutly, I really think DW and others should review this matter and make it policy to better protect the brave yet vulnerable.
Forget artistic licence, when the cameras are gone, the situation for those caught speaking up could deteriorate.
The Madagascan government should hang their heads in shame, they just seem to want their people to be in perpetual poverty, in service to others.
This is such an eye-opening documentary. I can't thank these brave journalists enough for the time and effort they put in this video.
Thank you for watching and your positive feedback :)
Agreed thank you for helping bring this to light as I have been studying this as well. Do you have anyone to contact to ask more personal questions about this matter for my research as well? I wish to learn more and have an opportunity coming up to ask some questions about this topic and trace where stones and suppliers in my area get their suppliers and how much they are aware of these issues or see what I can find out as well. If you could provide an email or contact to discuss this further please do let me know. Any way to contact w privacy w be greatly appreciated on this matter thank you.
Eye-opening documentary....
Yeah, showing that people who believe in magic stones are stupid for supporting something so inhuman is reaaaaally eye-opening, lmao.
Claps for them!!!!!!❤❤❤
I pray for more courage to journalists like you.
It is a great documentary, an eye opener on how we tend to take our lives for granted!
just a few days ago when i came across the gua-sha/jade rollers, i become really interested in them and even considered buying them. thank you so much for exposing the harsh reality behind their creation, and actually visiting the country!
Chinese here....guasha really helps to make you relax tho the process i painful (like massage), but there's really no need to buy expensive gemstone guasha tools. My mother and grandmother use our normal porcelain soup spoons from the kitchen to do it.
Can you guess who mined the crystals inside the cell phone you're using right now??!!!!
I'm Malagasy living abroad and it's painful whatching this but for once, it shows what realy happening.
It's not just for the crystal but for many many other thing, there is NO transparancy in my country, the government don't allow real thing to be known, and THIS helps us to discover more about the reality.
Thank you for all the effort and the hard work to show this to the world!❤
PLEASE give anonymity to those brave but vulnerable people taking part in exposés from countries where you KNOW the human rights conditions are poor.
They may not ask but that is no excuse.
Thanks you for continuing to do great documentaries though; I’m not aware of any news channel of this calibre better than DW.
The price difference is way too crazy. Imagine what their lives could have been if they were paid for what they really worth
ppl dont know anything about money. thats why. and it happens in america too. people who dont know anything are working shitty low wage jobs which in terms of how rich America is, is almost as bad as these people in madagascar
They would be millionaires
We all would be millionaires if we would be paid the price of products we make at work. It doesn't work like that. Sadly
I'm a jewelry maker using strictly genuine gemstones. I can tell you that in 6 years of selling both beads and jewelry, NO ONE has ever asked about labor conditions, fair market, or any other related topic. I was a mineral, rock & fossil collector for decades and very few people were concerned about extraction issues except "conflict diamonds" awareness. I used to ask my vendors about these issues and none of them had a clue except sometimes about the bead factory processing the material.
Can you guess who mined the crystals inside the cell phone you're using right now??!!!! Did you watch Dr. Shiva Ayadurai 's videos?
@@MM-qp4pd Whataboutism doesn't help issues like this. We all know it is impossible to be perfectly ethical as a consumer. You have to focus on one issue at a time and try to make SOME change in anyway you can. It's all you can do. Awareness alone is the first step and most people aren't even aware.
The crappy thing is that people don't realize that change is local and small and then ripples out. Most people aren't versed on law, let alone regulation and law in a different country, let alone in a specific area of a country under specific jurisdiction.
All we can do as consumers is try to make other choices with what we buy when we're aware of it happening and there are some products where this is outright impossible, including food, clothes and technology.
On top of this, your ethical choices are limited by your finances. Considering half the world is poor to low income which includes both extreme poverty to more 1st world level struggling to pay rent, most people can't even choose fair trade, ethical or sustainable sources because they literally can't afford them.
This documentary unveils the hidden realities behind the gemstone industry, reminding us to consider the human cost of our desires for beauty and wellness. It's eye-opening and thought-provoking. Thank you for shedding light on this important issue.
This hurts to see the people doing the backbreaking work get peanuts for their toil and labor; and the people further down the supply chain to reap the rewards and benefits from another human's effort. Terribly sad and disappointing. Nonetheless, your research, tenacious efforts and questions revealed the truth in this story. Thank you!
Exactly and many people don't know this including that stones don't really make you happier or spiritual effects or whatever salt rock lamps don't make you happier either Scientists proved that
@@andrewreynolds912 did the scientists find that out?
Where n when?
I don't know when they became popular. All of a sudden I noticed u cld buy them in shops. At prices I wouldn't pay.
Capitalism and globalization fuelling human greed at work.
The stone is a commodity, similar to thousands of other commodities. In a global market, this kind of situation is just not avoidable and unstoppable. The kids in Madagascar need the money but with few options for them. At least they can work and earn something by digging and shipping the stones, which is helpful to their family and themselves. Even if the end sellers in EU strictly demand to get rid of children labors and improve the working conditions (higher pay for frontline workers, diggers, shippers, insurance, equipment, personal protection equipment, or even air-conditioning at work sites, and whatever the Western media and readers feel morally better), it is impossible to implement without sending onsite Q/A control and inspectors. These all cost money. Shall end sellers raise the price to compensate for these additional cost? Sure, why not?! Then the market will unavoidably shrink, and this will eventually feedback to Madagascar and the kid labors will either earn even less or there will be less labors.
Don't fool yourself. Nobody can change these and child labor will exist for many years to come in underdeveloped countries. And you know what? The kids do not feel they are being exploited. They are happy with these jobs.
As usual, great journalism. These mining labor problems are similar to coffee farms and others all over the world. When companies are even putting the label as ' Fair Trade' I've been doubting since Ive watched these documentaries. People just dont wanna think what we are buying are from forced labour, and can imagine deep down to the supply chains what stages of these peoples working conditions are fair and legit, it is very sad to hit the reality. Simply not buying products wont help changing the conditions of global south.
I was born in Madagascar but grew up in the US and I love crystals. This was painful to watch but thank you for bringing awareness. I pray my country and its people will get the appropriate treatment and prosperity it deserves🙏 it really is a wealthy country in gems and other resources, the people's lives should be in a better condition. I somehow stumbled on this video, so thankful that I did. I recently heard someone say we live in a dystopian world and I unfortunately agree. Misaotra tompoko.
Only possible by Democracy. By blood of brave citizens.
Madagascar is a democratic country with a multi-party, presidential system of government. The government is composed of the president, prime minister, and cabinet members, with the president elected by the national electorate. The Constitution of Madagascar guarantees basic rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. Additionally, Madagascar has signed many international human rights conventions and agreements committing to protecting civil rights and freedoms. However, Madagascar still faces challenges such as political corruption, poverty, and inequality, which pose obstacles to its democratic development and social progress.
So democracy is not the solution here
Perhaps they just need to use the right crystal
Praying is similar as doing nothing really. The solutions always come from humans.
I am a paralyzed spinal cord person as a result of injury from my neck,And to see someone put in such a heavy stone on their neck Directly to the spine give me chills.The government is partly to be blamed.
I hope one day your situation improves ♥️❤
@@cleohettori8725 Thank you so much this means a lot to me.
I hope you regain full strength and recovery 🙏
DW deserved to awarded with numerous catagories for producing DEFINITE videos of interests. LOVE from Sabah, Malaysia!
I'm very impressed how DW does the documentary so well and how they show the lives of such different people, it's particularly interesting.
This is insightful. This is exactly what’s happening in mines in Nigeria. My client mines fluorite and lead ore and sells to Chinese, who in turn export to China. The circumstances surrounding the mining conditions, prices and regulatory inadequacies as narrated in this documentary are quite similar to what he’s experiencing.
Well. Apple is protecting rights of Chinese workers. They did check around on small components supplying factories regarding workers working conditions and accommodation and salaries. Thank you for that. Those Chinese stone products suppliers might not be stone importers, the importers and African exporters might not communicate regarding mining situations. It is difficult for them to get involved in mining operations in foreign land. And I do think African workers do need the job. Best options will be having investment locally. Whole mining. Production and finished production exporting all in one. That can make easier control.
The Chinese has no control over the mining conditions surrounding the Nigerian miners. They often don’t get to talk to the miners at all, only the local exporter in charge, so they don’t get to see what’s happening at the mine. African mine owners often ask the Chinese to buy from them and say it’ll give the locals a job to do, and the Chinese does because they believe it’s better to give the miners a way to support their family and in the Chinese’s eyes it’s not as expensive as say Swiss quartz. But believe it or not, the owners in charge often force the Chinese businessmen to engage in covert price manipulation. This has been happening a lot with certain Namibian crystals. Stop blaming the Chinese people when they’re just one part of the supply chain. Punish the corrupted mine owners who do this.
From what I heard, Nepalese Himalayan crystals are slightly better because most Nepalese miners are heavily religious and don’t believe in this over exploitation of premium thing. Their miners are way more protected or at least acts way more safely when mining, and that’s why the crystals are slightly more expensive. Nepalese spend 1/3 of their year MIA, for “wholesome” reasons, like engaging in cultural activities, so they don’t receive phone calls or anything at all, even if you pay them. So the Chinese need to pay them more for their small but safe produce and also for the time they’re absent throughout the year. They engaged directly with the miners so the Nepalese miners get all the profit, the Chinese only slightly, and the Chinese consumers are willing to pay because the origins are more ethical.
If the Chinese were responsible for harsh Nigerian conditions, well they’re also just as responsible for the harmony, safety and prosperity of the Nepalese miners. But that is not the case, the Namibian mine owners are responsible for their atrocities and the Nepalese miners’ communal values are credited for their prosperity. The Chinese are just the consumers paying for everybody’s food on the table but have no say on how it is shared.
Well said!
You have done an amazing job. I hope people have more awareness of what they're buying and ask for more legal obligations to protect the miners. This documentary makes me want to be a journalist, too.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment! We're glad you liked the documentary. :)
This kind of unbiased documentary makes DW one of the best.. keep it up!
Thanks for your positive feedback!
It's actually not the stones it self that helps the skin, it's the stimulation of the capillaries and fat pockets that the stones do when massaged into the face. You can do this with anything flat and smooth. Crystals are just a perfect material to use.
It could be any hard, polished surface.
You could just use a smooth stone from a river or beach.
Or a spoon
This was a great documentary - thank you. I have to admit, I teared up a little when the roller came out and it was exposed that it was sold for 40 Euros when the miners were only making 10 cents for their hard work. It's disgraceful and unjust that this is how it is. They deserve more.
We did the whole crystal thing in the '70's, but no woman I knew ever really believed that whichever crystal did anything at all.
It was just fun.
Well, conspiracies were also just 'fun' 30 years ago and look at them now. It's kinda internet's fault but it's sad since internet brought us insane access to education yet we use it the opposite way...
It's because we still had a brain back then! 😂😂
Well rocks and crystals do have electromagnetic vibrations to them and the structures themselves are very organized structures which can transmit frequency. This is why it’s always been used in watches to keep time, it transmits frequency to move the dial and watches that run on Quartz are more accurate than electric watches. So it’s not really made up it does conduct energy. Whether that energy is healing I don’t really know.
Most people I know just like them for the fun of it, something physical that has value attached to project your wants and needs onto. At least that's what I've seen but it's also the opinion I hold so there's a bias.
If the crystals had healing properties then the miners would live to be the oldest humans on earth no?
Finally! Thank you so much DW team! For years and years I tell my friends and everyone who buys the stones but I have not find many proof; now I'll directly send this doc. to them. I hope they feel 'spiritual enough' to act for ending this injustice. I believe we can stop this at least for the life of new generations and those who have worked all through their lives deserve the right to have a choice. Please don't leave this subject here and make a new episode. Madagascar is not the only country that suffers from powerty of cosmetic & beauty industry.
Stopping them where will the workers get their money?
Do you have a way to make them not starve to death?
What do you propose we do to help these people? If people stop buying the stones they will sink into poverty even further. But exploiting dangerous work conditions and child labor is also unacceptable. Only enforcement of regulations and them getting money from the government or elsewhere can help the situation.
Majority of clothes you wear, standard cosmetics, even your everyday makeup is most likely unethical, are you willing to give it up too? I just don't like this blaming the customer for everything when it's in fact the companies exploiting this people who are to blame for those conditions.
The only right solution is to stop having kids that will participate in this consumerism society. There are a lot of solutions in demographic control.
I'm listening to this while walking my dog in Southern Arizona (USA)and I've walked by so much rose quartz. It's a real tragedy that people have found ways to exploit miners and, to a much lower extent, consumers in the trade of this ubiquitous mineral.
My mom lived there and brings me rose quarts when she goes. She said the same thing that they are everywhere
Can you guess who mined the crystals inside the cell phone you're using right now??!!!! Did you watch Dr. Shiva Ayadurai 's videos?
That Sisia kid is so smart. He knows what is happening, even without leaving his island, left alone his village.
He knows that is wrong for a kid to give up school, that his parents need help for him to survive .
That kid has so much potential....but completely imprisoned in that reality 😢
Bravo, brave journalists for exposing exploitation and injustice happening in Madagascar daily. Clearly, human rights laws are needed globally in the face of mass consumerism and greed.
I love that we are in a world where we are no longer ignoring the wrong doings of the world. Not just America but all the countries.
We still do
DW is one of the last hopeful places left on internet that produces documentaries about very important and neglected topics, with zero bullshit, well done!!!
It's really sad to see humans in so-called 'developed' and 'advanced' countries so mentally and emotionally vulnerable that they're willing to believe that some stones can help improve their lives by just possessing them or rubbing them on skin.
Mind blown by the stupidity of people and even worse how easily people fall for unethical marketing. Specially this gem stone industry seems to be just full of darkness, I wouldn't want to rub some stones on my body that are just filled with so much negativity, hard work, tears and death (I mean if I was superstitious and believed in good and bad energy).
these are the same people that religions thrive on for millenniums
@@14489new age religion basically. Human tend to trend to religious practices one way or another which is eh, kinda sad
commodity fetishism at its peak
Human history is full of cultures believing pretty rocks will heal them or give them powers. It’s honestly strange why such beliefs are so widespread. Like we have to give justification for simply enjoying things that sparkle.
This is very similar to emerald mining in Zambia. It would be really nice to have something similar done. Alot of dealer's in Europe claim responsible mining yet locals and the community have not benefited from any development. Few ppl are aware of this. Please reach out if you would be interested.
I'm a beauty influencer from India and I m always attracted towards this quartz culture and trend. But after knowing the truth behind the stones, it really hurts.
It’s the same story over and over. Almost all of our modern goods have ingredients that come from exploited people who deserve to be paid a decent wage. It’s ok to think crystals are pretty and nice to have around but important to remember where they come from and that they are just rocks, dug up by some poor person barely scraping by. I don’t know what we can do about it other than bring awareness and hope there will be better regulation and pay for their work.
@@CampingforCool41 I like crystals and have a few on my bookshelf, but it doesn't go beyond that. Probably because I understand the scientific ideas of geology. A lot of this nonsense is based on woo--i.e. unproven superstition.
"influencers" - despicable creatures who have no idea about the benefits and harms of the products they sell, who go into the pockets of the followers for their personal interests (exceptions excluded).
Thank you @DW - you are my fav youtube channel
where there is demand there is supply .. its not only about influencers ... ppl literally geting dumber and dumber
Too many people follow stuff that is promoted by influencers or just what is trending on social media. We don't need to follow any influencer. We are ALL individuals.
Agreed DW is excellent!
Influencers are usually narcissistic.
I also wondered why people believe "influencers", those people behide the screen could be just actors hired to do the job, we as an audience have no way of really knowing much about the "influencers" education, knowledge, background, experience and they change their recommendations depending on the sponsor , so obviously they're not being honest, so why do people let some random people(influencers) on the screen influence them?
👏👏👏
‘Don’t belive the hype!’ served me enormously well so far. I hope you can also control the influence others want on your decisions making.
Thank you for the documentary. It’s refreshing to hear better approach to soundtrack in general! Massive attack?
Modeselektor? Color me impressed, DW!
I can imagine your recent uploads resonate well not only with me but also with others that want to have bigger picture about important things in life.
Once again! Thank you for shining the light on many important issues that need to be not only addressed but also changed with the knowledge of the whole inner workings.
Would it be possible if someone can comment if there is any static/structural engineer that would analyze the safety of those mines?
yeah and don't forget about Bonobo track as well. Germany = perfect music taste. forever and ever
And Moderat!
I'm wondering if the story is similar with Himalayan salt lamps.
To hear those kids say they want to go to school but can't afford too, that hurt my heart. Especially as a teacher.
Possibly
In 2013 I was studying this topic and I found a journal publication which said something about the salt miners earning less than $2 a day and how "fair trade" was corrupt because the price charged for the end products doesn't filter down to the workers on the land ($50 for a salt lamp at the time, where I lived!). I can't find the specific Himalayan publication now but you can certainly google uneven distribution of revenue/corruption in fair trade and find many results. It's a very heartbreaking story that is often repeated inside the narrative of 'helping poor countries develop their economy" 😞
Himalayan salt is rust ❤
@@starlightpancake Given that iron oxide gives the salt its colour, I think you're onto something.
I do not know how. But lately you have become my favorite TH-cam channel. Even BBC documentaries cannot compete with you in quality. Thank you for providing us with free information on interesting topics.
Thank you for creating this documentary. It feels so eye-opening to see what really happens in the world. God bless all of the struggling souls.
This is amazing journalism. Extremely heartbreaking to see their work conditions
You are simply the best there is in informative documentation DW. I travel this world. You help bring us together ❤️ 🙏🏾
Thank you for watching and for the positive feedback. :)
People are so easily duped. Come on! Maybe put that energy into helping others.
👏💯
Exactly instead of crystals that don't actually do anything
Well i guees rocks do have some subtle power, from ancient times isn't emperor seals also made from jade stone? From Aaron breastplate with twelve stones? New Jerusalem with multicolor stones?
I'd recommend developing critical thinking skills, first and foremost.
I don't believe any of this. It is all pagan.
It feels like award-winning documentary . Thanks DW documentary
Amazing documentary. I really hope this injustice stops! Its ridiculous. I will never think about buying this type of stones ever again.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your feedback!
You are watching this on a device powered by precious minerals and elements inhumanely mined.
Also DW documentary starting up a fake supplier business was very smart try to find answers I gotta say you guys are amazing for what you're doing I appreciate it
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. :)
The inhumane level of greed is very very disturbing.
It is so important the work that you all are doing by showing these situations to the public. Thank you so much. We all should care a lot more of each others and try to help and make things change.
Can you guess who mined the crystals inside the cell phone you're using right now??!!!! Did you watch Dr. Shiva Ayadurai 's videos?
I used to believe that crystals could heal and bring good luck to my life. I also spent a lot of money on them when I was young. Watching this video made me feel so sorry for those people who work in such terrible conditions. I won’t buy anything that involves someone else’s pain anymore. I will choose companies that are trusted and have a good reputation.
As a budding geologist and a mineral collector, this was a very eye-opening documentary! Great song choices too.
Thank you for doing us all a service. I guess we are all accountable for turning a blind eye because it is the easier option. It is easier to ignore the suffering of others in developing countries if it means we can have another pretty thing. I am now in my mid 30s and only just really questioning what this means to me and how I can change my life decisions to help others and reflect the true value of equity that I want in my life. Thank you again for navigating these complex and difficult situations in order to provide us with this documentary. We can and must change.
Thank you DW for being consistent in finding injustice and presents them for all to see...
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Be sure to check out our channel for more content.
What a sorrow truth. If I didn't watch this documentary, I would never know this illegally mining process and the hardship people and children in Madagascar have been through.
My sister is totally into these crystals and has a whole big collection in different sizes and types (which I actually don’t understand). Nobody in our family approves of it, but she insists on its healing properties…
I am going to share this video with her!
Thank you for your hard work, brave reporting and uploading this video ! My heart and prayers go out for the kids in the mines at Madagascar.. wish I could do more for them…!!
A stone can't heal you. Christianity can.
Can you give a update on how they reacted?
@@land-uknown7456 she is still in denial. I only sent her the video. I don’t know how much sincerely she watched the video or not. I have to meet her and then talk about this with her seriously !
she can use it for fengsui or fashion . Other than that i have no idea .
@@johanneabelsen1644Neither can.
That was a great story you covered. I'm so in shock by the conditions. I'm definitely going to take this lesson and pass it down to whoever needs it. Thank you for this documentary
epoxy or metal guasha works just as well as "jade" guasha... it's so messed up. i know some guasha specialists say using it on face is pointless. scraping your legs or back is supposed to for example improve circulation, and after a session you're usually left with marks. it's not a pleasant treatment imho
I'm Tanzanian and Tanzania isn't that far from Madagascar but I'm VERY fortunate because my mum provides my every basic need and sometimes even my whims that I now realise are very stupid and dumb. DW you are heaven sent.
Incredible documentary. I truly had no idea of most of this information, and I greatly appreciate this thorough (as possible) in-depth look at even just something we take for granted, like rose quartz gems you may find in a gem shop. Are there any foundations or groups working to improve the working conditions of the miners (and other miners in similar situations) that we can help support?
This is so heartbreaking..but I do believe that if we educate ourselves we can become more conscious buyers..and then businesses will have to change their business model
Can you guess who mined the crystals inside the cell phone you're using right now??!!!! Did you watch Dr. Shiva Ayadurai 's videos?
Brilliant documentary. Thanks for shedding so much light on these precious stones.
and at the same time we have billionaires sitting around making more in one second what a miner in Madagascar makes in one year. Such a shame to humankind and makes me feel depressed about our own greed.
Seems China/India pay pennies and charge a steep mark up for their products. There needs to be more transparency about the costs of production and profit margins that is for sure. These miners deserve better pay. My only consideration then is that, when it becomes more lucrative to mine, these natural areas will be more heavily exploited by larger companies in search of profit causing vastly more environmental damage... A tricky situation indeed.
Thank you for this important piece of journalism. We say in the US, “Journalism is the fourth branch of government.”
I will not be buying those stones for myself or my daughter anymore.
I had a friend in Bangkok whose family run a gem cutting factory (just what they call it, no huge workforce though, just 3 of them: mom, dad, and son). They showed me a news tv show in which a woman was interviewed about her rose quartz roller and gua sha company. They said they made them for her, 100s of them and that she never paid them. Really messed up...
It would have been nice if this doc added that side of the story. What is the cost of shipping and working the gem into a product? These cutting factories add value .
they even bought the raw rose quartz themselves. A lot of it under the implicit understanding that they would do business with this woman over an extended period of time, maybe 5 years. Now their backyard looks like a quarry, so full is it of the raw material.
@@banalarousal4310 can't they work the material and sell it independently online?
@@DSGLABEL In my opinion Its complicated. Other than the language barriers (none of them speak english very well) there are other cultural barriers. Thai people are very hard workers, most are very kind, have a refined and sensitive aesthetic appreciation and highly skilled craftsmen... but to find a thai person with the particular kind of initiative it would take to start a business of that sort is pretty unusual. Thai people are not ambitious or farsighted planners and though not submissive (the country takes great pride in never having been subject to colonialization) workers usually require explicit instruction to know what to do everyday and in what order or else they will just sit on their hands. Entrepreneurship is a wild west of sorts, it is not something that it is so common for a thai person to excel in. It is better for this family to do the labor and have others market and sell.
@@banalarousal4310 I see. That's unfortunate. If you ever get some video of their craftsmanship, I'd love to see what they make.
I think the worst part is, nothing will happen because of this. everyone will just continue to close their eyes to it
I've also seen shops selling these gemstones in Hong Kong too. I've never believed in their benefits even though my aunt swears by the stuff. Thanks for reporting, very informative!
Thanks for watching and your positive feedback :)
@@DWDocumentary Please respond to the other comments about concerns around anonymity!!
heard there also do sell fakes stones
Can you guess who mined the crystals inside the cell phone you're using right now??!!!! Did you watch Dr. Shiva Ayadurai 's videos?
Thank you, Nadja and the DW team for making this stunning documentary. I think the first-hand buyers of the raw minerals and the mining country's government are the ones most responsible for child labor eradication and implementing fair trade policies. However, if corruption and bribery are still widely committed by the authorities in those countries, it will be difficult to turn the tables and fight for change.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
Thank you for making this documentary. I hope to see a comment at the end on how a viewer can help those people in Madagascar. The villain is the Madagascar government. How can a viewer influence a change in working conditions and paid rates? Knowing the situation is important, and taking action is more important.
Great comment!
The story of exploitation by the imperial core as usual. Excellent perseverance and courage, so bravo this team! And thank you DW for being the platform for these excellent stories to be told.
Thank you DW for another insightful and informative look into the real life costs of what is often “trendy” in the west/global north. Real journalism! Bravo!
Thank you for watching and sharing your positive feedback :)
Absolutely remarkable documentary. Thank you again DW journalists for informing us
Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and
are glad you like our content!
1:25 the video editor adding tierra whack only child is EVERYTHING TO ME YOU ARE A STAR
Great doc! Alot of research and asking the right questions, I've seen many vids like this but no one has delved as far
Reminds me of the influencers pushing fast fashion. These young people are so easily brainwashed by social media.
It's older people who work the media & how to encourage influencers, it's like grooming.
i appreciated the real story you guys bring here. behind the scene is the things that need to come out
Thank you so much for documentaries like this one, you people do an outstanding job!
Cheers
Thank you for watching us!
You could see a bit of pride when they saw what people make with their crystals. But then how their faces changed when found out how much the products are sold for... I hope they negotiate for higher prices in the future
negotiate? that’s their only livelihood, there’s no negotiating
It´s a real shame. Thank you DW to show the truth about the mining workers situation. Urgent action must be taken.
German documentary is so sober.I am Japanese.And I wish our country has such media attitude.
I attend the international gem fair in KL almost yearly. How ignorant I was to adore those rocks. I will not buy anymore. Thank you for this video
Thank you for such a well made documentary on this subject, i've been trying to tell so many others about this with no effect but hopefully now I can just send this instead, it has much more impact.
Thanks for watching and sharing!
I get a sense of pride from the workers when they see what their raw product becomes. Pride in your work is an important part of working . It saddens me that the money up top doesn’t reach them…
Thank you for making this documentary. This should get more views. People must have their eyes opened regarding the mining of these crystals.
Love the documentary❤
I just want to share my experience regarding gem stone (Batu Akik) in Indonesia. As in Madagascar some of the mines are still traditional. However, in Indonesia the local people themselves process the boulders into bracelets or rings. So the economy rotates domestically. Only a few artisans can sell jade jewelry to china.
I hope Madagascar doesn't just mine rose quartz and selling it in raw form. But can turn chunks of stone into jewelery on the spot in Madagascar. Build artisan village, art gallery, vocational school for gem stone art, etc.
Do I need to send gem stone artisans directly to teach stone polishing techniques in Madagascar? Or maybe Germany Investor eager to invest there?
🇲🇬🇮🇩 #limagang #austronesian
🇲🇬Vatolampy
🇮🇩 Batu/watu
Thanks a lot for watching and taking the time to comment!
Ketemu orang indo yang komen :') sad to know about this happening in madagascar
yes sir, you are on point!
So great to bring up the economic perspective side. Having added value definitely would change the economy of Madagascar a lot but corruption and selfishness of the government is ruining the country. Not only to mention the strangeness of that media lady at the beginning.
By the way, it is so amazing to see the similarities of the language as you mentioned at the end.
Actually, rock is vato in Malagasy and if there is a prefix it would become -bato (we pronounce o as « u »)
I'm from poor Asian country and I been witnessed many child labor surrounding me. It's been very common for child for work, and very strangely they are proud to working, ive been strongly against that kind of child labor, but when it comes to money, I can't do much
Maybe be you should thank to those greedy elite western capitalist who screwing your country economy, politically, military, sistematically
Judging by your name, let me just tell it to your face that INDONESIA is not a poor country at all. Its a very rich country with vast wealth of natural resources. There's just lots of poor people that got exploited because corruption is rampant.
Thank you for this. I have been writing a research paper about conflict minerals and have been focusing mostly on 3tg minerals but have been doing a lot of research about mining in general. This has given me new insight and will definitely be researching more about these minerals and it’s mining process.
Thank you for watching! We're glad you found the documentary helpful.
Having anything that isn't a need comes at a greater cost than we realize
I hope Olivia doesn´t watch this video for the sake of the locals who colaborated. The point is they live like that because others live very well . Nothing new under the sun. Danke, DW. I´m a fan of yours.
Kudos to the entire team for this informative documentary! I hope you all stay blessed.
Upon you is the responsibility to be happy without necessarily trying to fit in!